The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-09-17

handle it."
 At this moment lively musketry was heard from the other side of the barricade. The Germans were com ing.
 The village was deserted by its in- habitants, women, children, cripples and old people had departed, taking with them everything they could carry.
 The able bodied men were in the army.
 The battle begun; the bullets whis- tied in the air and fiattened themselves against the walls. The French held the place we'll and Papa Pierre, the vine dresser, bareheaded, his hair to the wind, fired his gun bravely, while his granddaughter loaded the fire piece after each discharge.
 Suddenly, bombshell burst at ten yards from the barricade.
 "Sacre N de D p exclaimed the cap tain, "they lombard us now, in ten minutes we will have to go if-'
 He had not time to end his phrase when a second projectile passing through the roof of the shelter cov- cred him and his soldiers with dust |; happily no one was wounded, alone Jacqueline had uttered cry. The emotion was too much for the poor girl-she tainted.
 "You must retire, captain" said Papa Pierre to the officer; but will remain here. have some cartridges left; l shall fire them off Cop
 "Never!" exclaimed the captain. "We shall die here."
 ''l tell you to retire, you are respon- sible before God and before the coun- try for the life of your men, To re- main here is simply madness and not bravery. How can you defend this village with guns against cannons, with twelve men against five hun dred?"
 "lt is better to die on French soil in fighting than in German prison"
 "But you will not be taken: leave immediately that barricade that you cannot hold any longer; turn on the right when you reach the end of the village, and take refuge in the for est"
 And you?"
 "l ] l am too old to walk
 We shall carry you"
 No, thanks; in this village 1 was born in this village l want to die |: besides that, confde my Jacqueline to you, captain. Have you any chill dren yourselt?"
 -Four"
 "Then l am tranquil on her fate. Adieu, captain! Adieu, soldiers, my young comrades, and IIrc id France l"
 The Germans advanced. The firing had decreased on the French side; all at once it ceased completely. Papa Pierre had no more cartridges left.
 He opened his door, entered his cabin, threw glance on the likeness of his granddaughter, then on a wooden crucitix and awaited the enemy.
 One by one the Germans climbed over the barricade.
 "Ah! there he is, the old devil.' exclaimed a six-foot corporal, "I was sure of seeing him firing at us'
 That corporal, Hermann by name, had been workman in the village of Chaille for years, and he knew every inhabitant intimately ~
 A colonel, pushing his way through his soldiers, said to Papa Pierre:
 "Show your hands, man."
 hn al chn h s1 They were black with powder.
 "Kill him." yelled the officer.
 Hermann thrust his bayonet in the breast of the old man. A moment Papa Pierre staggered on his legs, then fell face downward.
 The brave patriot, the valiant sol dier was dead.
 "Quick-bring some straw!" cried the officer. "Let us burn that village as we did Bazeille. That will teach a lesson to those rascals of Frenchmen. !"
 Hermann had not left the house. He lighted candle and descended into the cellar.
 An! ha He was to get good drink of Papa Pierrc's wine. The old scoundrel; so it was he who had re- sisted his comrades so long and killed not few of them. He had no re- gret for having assassinated defence less enemy, the man who protected his home. Had he not refused him the hand of his granddaughter and prom ised it to Francois, a soldier of the Third Zouaves? In regard to him Hermann had joined the German army-as he was in duty bound to do, being German-and he had always wished for thing, which was to re- turn in the village where he had found hospitality and work when he was in need of both to settle his account with Papa Pierre, the vine dresser.
 And his wish had been granted.
 Hc was in thu middlo of h., ;o,E,,l I